Black Orchid

The Black Orchid is a flower that has long been a part of the island nation of Kilarallis. It was originally discovered by the Elven Empire, who found the plant distasteful and so spread the negative opinion on to their slaves. After the Cataclysm however, it became a popular dye ingredient on the island which soon spread offland to the Regalian Empire due to the rich and dark purples the flower could produce. Kilarallis now guards this source of income zealously, sending agents and spies out after those who steal the plant or who cultivate stolen seeds or specimens. Despite this dark practice, the Black Orchid remains a positive symbol of Kilarallis.

Contents

History

The Black Orchid was a plant originally found on the island of Kilarallis by the Elven Empire who established a colony there. It was generally dismissed and viewed with negativity for unknown reasons, the opinion quickly rubbing off on the many slaves brought into the region. Their own explanations were that it was a plant belonging to a god of death and tricks. To the Ailor slaves, it was Haella, Ul, Alu or Otr while it was any number of a myriad of dark deities from Qadir polytheism and there were others from other cultures and races as well. By the time of the Cataclysm, these beliefs existed in an endless echo chamber. However, following the Cataclysm and the takeover by Prince Annél’lásion of the island, these urban legends were swept aside in favor of logic and reason. Seeing the plant as a valuable part of the economy, the leadership of Killarallis moved to reproduce the flower, harvest it and make it into dye which they then began to trade with nearby Etosil. From Etosil, the rich purple dye found its way to Regalia, which prompted interest in the island. While this was rebuffed, the flower’s importance only grew from there and today can be found growing in the wild as well as in special plantation areas that operate to harvest and process the flower into dyes for international sale in addition to use on the island. It is also now a symbol of the island nation, appearing on their flag and is zealously guarded by the inhabitants.

Appearance

The Black Orchid is a quarter to a half a foot wide flower with four to six black petals and a violet center in the shape of the bell or a horn. They grow in clusters along the banks of rivers in Kilarallis.

Uses and Abilities

If the petals of the flower are plucked, chopped and then boiled in hot water, a black or very dark mixture can be created which can be mixed with other dye ingredients to produce dark and somber colours of black, dark purple, dark blue and dark grey. The water must be at a boiling point and is normally left for around a day for the dark coloration to enter the water properly. Dargon and Humans can also use the plant’s dye on their fur or hair to turn it black and the results are known to last several weeks.

Trivia

Due to the isolationist tendencies of Kilarallis, there are few specimens of the Black Orchid elsewhere on Aloria, resulting in the occasional smuggling of the plant out of the state.

The belief that the plant was a killer and evil started when a story circulated by the island’s slaves stated that a woman gathering water had been pushed into the water by the plant; she more accurately tripped on a clump of the flowers, fell into the water and then over a nearby waterfall to her death.